Voices From Across the Strait

American Sephardi Federation & Yeshiva University Museum
in collaboration with the 6th Annual Sephardic Music Festival presents:

Sephardic Music Festival Scholar Series
Sepharad: Voices From Across the Strait
Artists: Vanessa Paloma and d’Safi Takht Ensemble
Program curator: Samuel R. Thomas

Monday, December 6, 2010, 6:30pm

The Strait of Gibraltar has long served as a bridge between North Africa and Iberia, facilitating transcontinental kingdoms for centuries and as an important passage for Sephardic migrants. Moroccan cultural expressions remain central to the perpetuity of Sephardic culture. As a part of the sixth annual Sephardic Music Festival, this evening’s Scholar Series provides an opportunity to explore aspects of Sephardic musical culture through performances by singer and scholar, Vanessa Paloma, and the d’Safi Takht Ensemble, performing North African and Jewish music in a contemporary way. An audience-interactive panel discussion follows with the artists, led by ethnomusicologist and curator, Samuel R. Thomas.

Co-sponsors: The Foundation for Iberian Music, American Jewish Historical Society, American Society for Jewish Music, the Institute for Sephardic Studies, AsefaMusic and Shemspeed.

SPECIAL PRE-CONCERT EVENT — 5:30 to 6:30pm
Exhibition opening, Lighting the Menorah and Holiday treats!
YUM presents Dates | Pomegranates | Olive Oil – Chanukah Lamps
Artist Oded Halahmy will be present

For nearly forty years Oded Halahmy has dedicated himself to honoring his heritage through dazzling Chanukah lamps. Mixing symbols from his Jewish and Iraqi background-pomegranates, hamsas, lions, and palm trees-Halahmy’s brilliant creations invite us to contemplate the holiday and its meanings.

at the Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, NYC

General Admission: $15/ $12 for ASF, YUMuseum, American Jewish Historical Society and American Society for Jewish Music members and students with ID. Ticket includes performance and panel discussion with the artists, entrance to YUM Galleries and viewing the current ASF exhibit, Looking Back: Jewish Life in Morocco.

Tickets @ www.smarttix.com; or 212.868.4444.